New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-09
DUTY IN POLITICS.
ciousl,y.

Moral obligation must govern votes and
parties, or the Republic cannot thrive. Thanks
to President Cleveland, 1t is becoming clearer
every day, to citizens who seek to do their duty
and arc not blinded BY partisan prejudice, what
duty REQUIRES Confidence in the future of the
Republic, faith in the fitness OF the people Tor
self-government, do not imply that all citizens
will be clear-cyed in the perception OF right
and wrong, or wholly unbiased by partisanship
in their Judgment. Certain voters arc bllndly
and passionatcly Democrats; certain others
are Republicans through early influences, sur
roundings prcjudices or selfish interests But
between these bodies of voters, whose verdict
is not governed by deliberate Judgment or con-
scientious conviction, there Is vast Dody OF
citizens who are Democrats or Republicans
only because they honestly seek TO do rlgho
and to serve their country faithfully. Presl'
dent Cleveland is making it easy for these
voters to decide which party to support.
These men feel that it is a duty so TO vote that
honest and reputable persons shall be elevated
TO places of trust and honor But they see
that men who are not honest, men who are
law-brcakers and plunderers, men who arc
utterly disrcputablc, constituencies and shame
for placcs of trust and honor under the Demo-
cratic party Subtleties about Civil service
Reform do not confuse them they comprehend
that no other party for more than Il quarter oil
a century has so grossly affrontcd puoilc seh'i-
mcnt and the public conscience, by choosing
dishonorable and dsrcputablc men for office, as
the Democratic party under President Cicvc-
land
These men feel that the country is on the
downward road when its ruling party seeks
spoils and not principles when its govern
mcnt means office holding and not ialthiul
effort to promote public welfare by wise meas
,res. For years they have seen the Demo
cratic party tried, and they know how little
principle it has, how openly it falsihes It's
record in order to get Office, how unscrupulously
MANY of its officials serve party and sell
avoiding every effort for the public good that
may cost them votes.
These citizens know that it is the duty OF
their Government to promote honest trade ana
productive industry instead of speculation
But they have seen within the past TWO years
the widest riot Of speculation deliberately
fostercd by imitation of the currency, In order
to help Democratic candidates IN elections.
They have seen industries hampcrcd ana
hindcred by crazy speculation, and not less oy
partisan agitation for free trade. business
interests and moral convictions pull the same
way here; party that promotes gambling
instead of business undermncs at once The
public prosperity and the pubic morals These
citizens realize that it is the duty OF govern
mcnt to defend and build up INDUSTRIES so
that better conditions and larger rewards may
be secured for the millions who labor. II this
were done at large public sacrifice, 1t would
still be a high and sacred duty to upIiit' as
far as the Government can within the llmtS
of its constitutional power the millions who
have least power to elevate or defend them
selves. But the National policy which defends
home industry no longer costs sacrifice; INC
time has come when yearly returns, through
development Of resources and increase OF pro-
duction more than repay all the sacnilccS
which defence of labor involves Interest and
duty thus unite in requiring a maintenance OF
the Republican policy which for many years
the Democratic party has not ceased to assail.